Steam generator



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June 1927 w; B; EWING STEAM GENERATOR Filed Nov. 12. 1921 SShaets-Shut l June 14, 1927. w. B- EWING STEAM GENERATOR Filed NOV. 12. 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet, 2

June w. B. EWING STEAM GENERATOR Filed Nov. 12. 1921 s Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented June 14, 1927.

harass Arar WILLIAM B. EWING, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,

STEAM GENERATOR.

Application filed November 12, 1921. Serial No. 514,601

Another important object of the invention is the provisionot a generator consisting of relatively few parts, which may be cheaply manufactured, readily assembled, and unlikely to require frequent repair, replacement, or readjustment.

Another important object of the invention is the provision of a generator of the character described, theconstruction of which may be readily understood by the averagegarage mechanic, the parts being so arranged that they may be easily removed and replaced, or. readjusted as occasion, may require.

Another highly important object of the invention is the provision of a burner and combustion chamber in such a generator which are completely enclosed.

Another important object of the invention is the provision of a generator which will permit the use of a condenser, forming with the generator, piping and engine parts, a closed system, so that the water employed may be used over and over again, the apparatus being so I designed as i to require a minimum amount of addition of fresh feed water.

Another important object of the invention is the provision of a generator of the character described which will be so constructed. and arranged as to provide high velocity of moving water and steam through the tubes whereby to enable the generator to practically tree the tubes otscale and other foreign matter so as to prevent appreciable deposit thereof.

Numerous other objects and advantagesot the invention willbe apparent from the tollowing description which taken in connection with the accompanying drawing illustrates a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawin s:

Figure 1 is a transverse sectional View taken on theline lt-I of Figure2of a generator embodying my invention, certain attendant parts being shown schematically.

Figs. 2 and 3 are sections taken -respectively on, the lines 2-2 and 3-8 of Fig. 1-.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention, I lrave shown on the drawing a steamgenerator in winch all o'l its several features are embodied. It will, however, be readily manifest that some of the features may be omitted. and allrinay-be diiterently constructed and arranged without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention.

I The embodiment of the invention shown on the drawing includes an outer casing 11, preferably comprised of a sheet metal outer shell '12 and an inner thick layer of heat insulating material 13, as asbestos fibre and the like. The outer shell, is preferably made in two parts together entirely enclosing the steam generating parts. A hollow tank 1 i is provided within the casing, this tank in the present instance beingof cylindrical torm and constituted of an outer wall 15, and inner wall 16, and" top and bottom Walls 17 and 18. This tank is so arranged'within the casing as to form an outer space 21 between the outer face of the tank and the-inner face of the casing, which space constitutes an up-draft fine as will presently be more fully explained. An annulus 22 closes the top of this space and an outlet 28' is provided at one side for the products of combustion. The annulus 22 is fixed at its upper end to the casing and is fastened by bolts 19, to

the tank, this arrangement supporting the tank in position. Insulating material 24: is providedupon the outer face of the tank. A burner 25' isvarranged just beneath the top wall 26 of. the casing, having a gas inlet 27 and an air inlet 28.. The burner openings 29 are arranged to direct the combustible mixture downwardly so that combustion occurs beneath the burner, the burner and tank being so arrangedthat this combustion oecurs within the upper hollow end of the tank. Water is introduced into the tank from a feed pipe 31 which enters through whence the coil is bent out into the insulation 13 at to the bottom of the tank, then inwardly at 36 to beneath the tank and thence upwardly at 37 into a coupling 38 communicating within the tank itself.

The steam generator in the present in stance is of the flash type and coils that will now be described are arranged in the path of the heated gases for the formation of the steam. This path of heated gases is down- 7 wardly through the tank and thence upwardly about its outside. These coils have lower connection at 39 with a coupling entering into the bottom of the tank. They are arranged serially as follows: The tube end 41; continues into an upwardly spiraling concentric coiling 42 and then in a downwardly spiraling 43, the coils 42 and 43 being located at the bottom partof the flue s ace 21 and beneath the insulation 24.

rom the coils 43, the tube is brought in wardly as indicated at dotted lines 44 to an upwardly, arranged series of coils, the individual members of each series being concentric and disposed horizontally. Each such series is designated by reference character 45 from which itwill'be noted that the tube is coiled spirally a number of times at each horizontal level and fromeacli such coiling a direction angular with respect to the side wall of the tank. The entrained water is therefore projected forcibly against the outer side wall by the swirling motion of the steam. This produces a separation of the water from the steam and dryer steam results.

The steam is withdrawn from the tank for use by a tube 51. This tube communicates with a coupling 52 at the top of the tank. From this coupling, the tube 51 iscoiled downwardly at 52 within the coil 47 to just above the series of coils 45. From the coils 52, it is looped downwardly at 53 to near the; bottom of the tank and back up to 54 near the bottom of the coil 52. A second downward loop 54 is provided at right angles to the loop 53, this loop extending on up and.

out as indicated. It will be noted that the generator in the present instance includes preheating coils.

33, flash or, steam generating coils 42,43, 45 and47, and superheating coils 52, 53 and 54-. The products of combustion are of course cooler from the zone of combustion progressively to the outlet 23 and it will be noted that the arrangement shown on the drawing results in subjecting the feed water pipes or coils 33 to the coolest portions or zones of the moving hot gases; that the coils 42 and 43 are located in the next warmer zone; those 45 in the zone still warmer; and those 4? in the actual zone of combustion; and that the superheating coils 52 are at thehottest zone of the apparatus.

If desired a steam gage 61 may be pro vided and communicate with an upper pipe 62 and a lower pipe 63 with the top and bottom of the tank. A pipe 64 is provided to be connected with a safety valve (not shown) if desired, and an opening 65 through the casing to permitthe provision of a pilot light (not shown) or the insertion of a match to light the burner.

The enerator is Well adapted to form part of a closed steam and water circuit, the steam being condensed again and again after the steam has expended its power. A pipe or tube 67 leading from the engine conducts the steam to a condenser shown diagrammatically in Fig. 1 at 66. From here the resulting water is carried to a combined float and valve chamber 68, from which a single pump 76 is adapted to return it through the tube 31 to the tank.

The inside of the flash tubes is of small diameter, so that, the water in moving through them'travels at high velocity. It

is discovered that water moving at high' velocity through a tube will change from a straight path of travel to an eddying or spiraling one, and that water thus traveling may be more quickly and easily heated. The velocity of the water results from gravity through difference of gravity levels by steam generation, the bubbling or ebullition, and the steam velocity itself.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages, will be understood from the foregoing without further description and it will be manifest that various changes may be made in 'the'form, construction, and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit'and scope of the invention, or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore ment" thereof.

I claim: 7

1. A steam generator, comprising a casing,'a tank providing an inner flue, and an outer flue in connection with said casing, water coils in the outer flue, flash coils in the inner flue, the arrangement of said coils being such that the flow of water through the feed coils is in areverse direction to the flow of steam in the flash coils.

2. A steam generator comprising a casing closed at its bottom, an annular tank within said casing and spaced from the bottom and .described being merely a preferred embodi- V side Walls thereof to provide a flue space, coils connected to said tank and arranged between said casing and tank Within the inner Wall of said tank, and a burner located above the tank in position to direct heated gases down through the space Within the inner Wall of the tank, said gases then pass ing through said flue space between the tank and easing.

ing, a tank Within said casing, a series of preheater coils, a series of flash coils, and a series of superheater coils, all connected to said tank, said connections being made at the top and bottom of said tank to permit 15 of the ready removal of said coils.

WVILLIAM B. EWING.

steam generator, comprising a oas- 1 

